Monday, April 27, 2015
Low Functioning Clients
I just had an interesting conversation with someone who uses the SNAP Curriculum in their day program. I had asked them if I could pass on their email when people ask me if I would give out customer information (which I don't do) so they can talk to someone who uses the material before they purchase it for their own agency. They (the person with whom I was conversing) basically said that the material is good for their higher functioning clients, but isn't always appropriate for their lower functioning clients ("higher and lower functioning" are my words, not theirs).
My response was that my staff was always great at including all clients in our discussions of the topics. We never assumed that a "low functioning" client didn't understand what was going on. If we were talking about Stranger Awareness to a group that included a non-verbal client who had little opportunity to make contact with a stranger, we included them in the discussion with their peers anyway. I think it's kind of rude to assume they don't care about the topic or that they just don't understand what's being said, or that they somehow don't mind being told that staff has no faith in them learning to become as independent as they can. Giving clients a little respect can be a powerful thing.
If we were talking about Making Appointments, and the person clearly can't use a phone and make their own appointments, why would I assume they weren't interested in what their care providers were doing on their behalf when the care provider makes appointments for them (often without talking to the client because the care provider thinks the client doesn't "get it" anyway).
Those kinds of assumptions are a very easy trap to fall into. There's no way you can know exactly what is going on inside the heads of your clients... especially those folks who can't necessarily communicate their emotions in a socially acceptable manner (and there's a topic about how to do that).
I have always said that the curriculum is a starting point of what to talk about. Yes, you should adapt it to make it as easy as possible for your particular clients to understand. The curriculum material is very adaptable that way. But it is a starting point and gives your staff some ideas of the kinds of issues that your clients are facing on a daily basis... whatever we think of their functioning level.
My response was that my staff was always great at including all clients in our discussions of the topics. We never assumed that a "low functioning" client didn't understand what was going on. If we were talking about Stranger Awareness to a group that included a non-verbal client who had little opportunity to make contact with a stranger, we included them in the discussion with their peers anyway. I think it's kind of rude to assume they don't care about the topic or that they just don't understand what's being said, or that they somehow don't mind being told that staff has no faith in them learning to become as independent as they can. Giving clients a little respect can be a powerful thing.
If we were talking about Making Appointments, and the person clearly can't use a phone and make their own appointments, why would I assume they weren't interested in what their care providers were doing on their behalf when the care provider makes appointments for them (often without talking to the client because the care provider thinks the client doesn't "get it" anyway).
Those kinds of assumptions are a very easy trap to fall into. There's no way you can know exactly what is going on inside the heads of your clients... especially those folks who can't necessarily communicate their emotions in a socially acceptable manner (and there's a topic about how to do that).
I have always said that the curriculum is a starting point of what to talk about. Yes, you should adapt it to make it as easy as possible for your particular clients to understand. The curriculum material is very adaptable that way. But it is a starting point and gives your staff some ideas of the kinds of issues that your clients are facing on a daily basis... whatever we think of their functioning level.
